Frank Piasecki
Encyclopedia
Frank Piasecki was an American engineer and helicopter
aviation pioneer. Piasecki pioneered tandem rotor
helicopter designs and created the compound helicopter concept of vectored thrust using a ducted propeller.
to an immigrant Polish
tailor, Piasecki worked for autogyro
manufacturers while still attending Overbrook High School
, then studied mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania
before graduating with a bachelor's degree from New York University
. In 1940, he formed PV Engineering Forum with former Pennsylvania classmate Howard Venzie. He built a single-person, single-rotor helicopter designated the PV-2 and flew it on April 11, 1943. This helicopter impressed the United States Navy
sufficiently to win Piasecki a development contract.
The name PV Engineering was changed to Piasecki Helicopter
Corporation in 1946. After a boardroom dispute, Piasecki left Piasecki Helicopter in 1955 and formed the Piasecki Aircraft
Company.
At Piasecki Aircraft, he participated in the development of the Piasecki 16H
-1 the world's first shaft driven compound helicopter, the PA-59K/VZ-8P
Flying Geep, the Piasecki PA-97 Helistat heavy vertical airlifter and the Piasecki X-49 experimental compound helicopter.
His son John W. Piasecki is now President and CEO of Piasecki Aircraft. His son Fred W. Piasecki is Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer of Piasecki Aircraft. His daughter Nicole Piasecki is vice president of Business Development & Strategic Integration for Boeing Commercial Airplanes
.
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
aviation pioneer. Piasecki pioneered tandem rotor
Tandem rotor
Tandem rotor helicopters have two large horizontal rotor assemblies mounted one in front of the other. Currently this configuration is mainly used for large cargo helicopters....
helicopter designs and created the compound helicopter concept of vectored thrust using a ducted propeller.
Biography
Born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to an immigrant Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
tailor, Piasecki worked for autogyro
Autogyro
An autogyro , also known as gyroplane, gyrocopter, or rotaplane, is a type of rotorcraft which uses an unpowered rotor in autorotation to develop lift, and an engine-powered propeller, similar to that of a fixed-wing aircraft, to provide thrust...
manufacturers while still attending Overbrook High School
Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)
Overbrook High School is an inner-city, public, four-year secondary school in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-School:...
, then studied mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
before graduating with a bachelor's degree from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. In 1940, he formed PV Engineering Forum with former Pennsylvania classmate Howard Venzie. He built a single-person, single-rotor helicopter designated the PV-2 and flew it on April 11, 1943. This helicopter impressed the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
sufficiently to win Piasecki a development contract.
The name PV Engineering was changed to Piasecki Helicopter
Piasecki Helicopter
The Piasecki Helicopter Corporation was a designer and manufacturer of helicopters located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s. The company was renamed Vertol Aircraft Corporation in the mid-1950s...
Corporation in 1946. After a boardroom dispute, Piasecki left Piasecki Helicopter in 1955 and formed the Piasecki Aircraft
Piasecki Aircraft
Piasecki Aircraft Corporation was founded by American vertical flight pioneer, the late Frank Piasecki, to continue pursuing the development of compound helicopters and other advanced rotorcraft.-History:...
Company.
At Piasecki Aircraft, he participated in the development of the Piasecki 16H
Piasecki 16H
|-See also:-References:Bibliography*Robb, Raymond L. , Vertiflite. Summer 2006. American Helicopter Society.-External links:* * * *...
-1 the world's first shaft driven compound helicopter, the PA-59K/VZ-8P
VZ-8 Airgeep
-References:NotesBibliography*Harding, Stephen. "Flying Jeeps: The US Army's Search for the Ultimate 'Vehicle'". Air Enthusiast, No. 73, January/February 1998. Stamford, Lincs, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0143 5450. pp.10-12.-External links:*...
Flying Geep, the Piasecki PA-97 Helistat heavy vertical airlifter and the Piasecki X-49 experimental compound helicopter.
Marriage and children
Piasecki was married to Vivian O'Gara Weyerhaeuser on December 20, 1958. They had seven children, Nicole, Frederick, John, Lynn, Frank, Michael, and Gregory.His son John W. Piasecki is now President and CEO of Piasecki Aircraft. His son Fred W. Piasecki is Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer of Piasecki Aircraft. His daughter Nicole Piasecki is vice president of Business Development & Strategic Integration for Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes designs, assembles, markets and sells large commercial jet aircraft and provides product-related maintenance and training to customers worldwide...
.
Awards
- Philip H. Ward, Jr. Medal from The Franklin Institute in 1979.
- National Medal of TechnologyNational Medal of TechnologyThe National Medal of Technology and Innovation is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology...
- President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
presented Piasecki with the country's highest technical honor in 1986. - Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Lifetime Achievement award - awarded in 2005
See also
- Piasecki HelicopterPiasecki HelicopterThe Piasecki Helicopter Corporation was a designer and manufacturer of helicopters located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s. The company was renamed Vertol Aircraft Corporation in the mid-1950s...
- Piasecki Aircraft CorporationPiasecki AircraftPiasecki Aircraft Corporation was founded by American vertical flight pioneer, the late Frank Piasecki, to continue pursuing the development of compound helicopters and other advanced rotorcraft.-History:...
- Boeing HelicoptersBoeing HelicoptersBoeing Rotorcraft Systems is a US aircraft manufacturer, now part of Boeing Defense, Space & Security...
- List of Poles
External links
- Piasecki Aircraft Corporation web site
- The Boy Who Grew Flying Bananas by L.B. White 1951 article on Piasecki at age 31 and his early helicopters. Rare photos.
- Frank Piasecki biography on National Aviation Hall of Fame site
- Summary of Frank's aviation legacy from AIN online